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Neurodivergent_lou Profile picture
@neuro_lou
Aug 11, 2024 • 17 tweets • 4 min read • Read on X
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Autism Diagnosis Criteria Explained: The Full Criteria in Easy to Understand and Neurodiversity Affirming Language
#Autism #Neurodivergent #Disability #ActuallyAutistic All slides have my username @neurodivergent_lou in the bottom left hand corner. Slide 1: text reads - Autism Diagnosis Criteria Explained The Full Criteria in Easy to Understand and Neurodiversity Affirming Language.
Slide 2: text reads- The DSM Criteria: Category A Deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts. 1.Deficits in social emotional reciprocity 2. Deficits in non verbal communication behaviours (e.g. gestures) used for social interaction 3. Deficits in the development, maintenance and comprehension of relationships
The DSM: Category A Criteria Explained Criteria Deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts. This means struggling in more than one settings such as at home, at school, in the workplace etc This means struggling to communicate in the way that non-autistic society expects.
Sub-criteria 1 Defecits in social emotional reciprocity This means struggling with the back and forth nature of neurotypical conversation. Examples of how this could present itself: Explanation: Infodumping about special interests in conversations. Answering questions bluntly. Masking social difficulties through learning and following socially appropriate scripts. Interrupting other people in conversations. Not initiating conversations with other people. Not answering questions in conversations. Not making small talk e.g. talking about weather or traffic.
Sub-criteria 2 Deficits in non verbal communication behaviours (e.g. gestures) used for social interaction This means struggling to understand and use non verbal communication (such as gestures, facial expressions and eye contact) according to non-autistic norms. Examples of how this could present itself: Explanation: Either lack of eye contact or very intense locked eye contact. Masking through following and mimicking how neurotypicals make eye contact or facial expressions. Struggles with interpreting other people's gestures. Making facial expressions that don't fit with the situation e....
Sub-criteria 3 Deficits in the development, maintenance and comprehension of relationships This means struggling to make, keep and understand relationships. Explanation: Examples of how this could present itself: Struggle to know how to make friends even if you really want to build friendships. Find it difficult to maintain friendships once you have made them. Feeling on the edge of social groups. Not understanding the point of friendships.
Restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests or activities as manifested by at least two of the following. Stereotyped or repetitive speech, motor movements or use of objects. 2. Excessive adherence to routines, ritualized patterns of verbal or non verbal behaviour, or excessive resistance to change. 3. Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus. The DSM Criteria: Category B Criteria Sub-criteria 4. Hyper or hypo reactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of the environment.
The DSM: Category B Criteria Explained Criteria Restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests or activities as manifested by at least two of the following. You must have at least two of the sub-criteria in order to meet the diagnostic criteria. This covers stimming, special interests, sensory differences and relying on routines and patterns.
Sub-criteria 1 Repeating words or noises, repetitive movements or repetitive use of objects. Stimming. Examples of how this could present itself: Explanation: Making noises over and over. e.g. making a clicking noise with tongue or making an animal noise Repeating words after they have been said by others. (echolalia) Lining up objects, spinning objects, flipping objects or organising collections into groups. Stimming with body. e.g. flapping hands, twirling hair, tapping hands, rocking back and forth Stereotyped or repetitive speech, motor movements or use of objects.
Sub-criteria 2 This means relying on routines and patterns and getting distressed when these are changed or not able to be followed. Struggles with changes. Examples of how this could present itself: Explanation: Struggling (more than other people) with life transitions e.g. moving house or changing job Having routines and getting distressed (including over a period of time) when these routines change. Interacting with others in the same way each time when greeting them. E.g. following a script. Needs to take same route to school, work or shops each time. 2. Excessive adherence to routines...
Sub-criteria 3 Having special interests/focused interests that are more intense and focused than how neurotypicals experience interests. Explanation: Examples of how this could present itself: Having the urge to often talk about your interest. Sometimes, you are so focused on your interest that you put off eating and drinking, showering or going to sleep. You know quite a lot of time thinking about/ researching your interest. 3. Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus.
Sub-criteria 4 Being over or under sensitive to sensory input. Particularly interested in the sensory aspects of the surroundings. Explanation: Examples of how this could present itself: Struggling with the feeling of clothing on your body including seams and clothes labels. May struggle and feel easily overwhelmed in loud and busy environments. Often bumps into people, walls or other objects. Struggling with food, may have a limited diet, due to textures, overwhelming colours or smells. May seek sensory input such as, through hugs or going under heavy objects. 4. Hyper or hypo reactivity t...
The DSM: Category C Criteria Explained Criteria C Symptoms must be present in the early developmental period (but may not become fully manifest until social demands exceed limited capacities or may be masked by learned strategies in later life). This means that autistic traits must be present from a young age. However, it is important to note that autistic traits may not be fully noticeable until someone faces increased social demands (e.g. as a teenager there may be more complex social rules to navigate) Autistic traits may be masked.
The DSM: Category D Criteria Explained Criteria D Symptoms cause clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of current functioning. This means autistic traits must be disabling socially, at work, in education or other areas of life. Autistic traits must have a significant impact on your life.
The DSM: Category E Criteria Criteria E These disturbances are not better explained by intellectual disability (intellectual developmental disorder) or global developmental delay. Intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder frequently co-occur; to make comorbid diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability, social communication should be below that expected for development.
The DSM: Category E Criteria Explained Criteria E This means that the traits experienced aren’t due to a learning disability alone. Autism and learning disability can co-occur together. In order to make a diagnosis of autism and learning disability, social communication should be different to what would be expected for the developmental level of the person.
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More from @neuro_lou

Neurodivergent_lou Profile picture
Oct 14, 2025
Autistic Traits I assumed I didn’t experience (And How I Actually Did)

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#Autism #ActuallyAutistic #AutismAwareness #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Disability #Disabled #DEI ko-fi.com/post/Autistic-…Image
Having to prepare scripts in my head, before socialising Always feeling like I never quite fitted in, like an alien who landed on another planet The absolute exhaustion from socialising, even if it was an event I loved Found navigating social hierarchies impossible For a time, had a special interest in human behaviour and body language, as a way to ‘make up’ for not understanding social cues. Social Difficulties I can’t be autistic, I socialise and communicate in the same way as my (family member [who I now think is likely autistic]) How this trait showed up? Why I assumed I didn’t experien...
2. Sensory Issues I assumed that everyone else experienced sensory input to the same level as I did, I was ‘just bad at dealing with it’ How this trait showed up? Tears all the labels out of my clothes Struggles with certain food due to the texture (the thought of eating marshmallows makes me want to scream) Feels suddenly frustrated by layers of noises Can smell other people’s perfume from far away Craves certain sensory input e.g. fizzy drinks, heavy blankets, blasting music through headphones Why I assumed I didn’t experience this trait
Read 12 tweets
Neurodivergent_lou Profile picture
Oct 13, 2025
Autistic Traits I assumed I didn’t experience as I interpreted them literally…

Autistic burnout resource mentioned- ko-fi.com/post/Autistic-…All slides have an orange background with black text. Slide 1: text reads - Autistic Traits I assumed I didn’t experience as I Interpreted them Literally
1. Stimming I assumed that because I didn’t flap my hands, that I wasn’t stimming. I didn’t realise that stimming could be a variety of things. How this trait showed up? Why I assumed I didn’t experience this trait Repeating phrases over and over Twirling hair around my fingers Walking on tiptoes Watching moving objects Cracking knuckles
2. Difficulty with social cues/rules I assumed that because I knew the social rule and would follow it all of the time with no exceptions, I was really ‘good’ at understanding social cues/rules. Why I assumed I didn’t experience this trait How this trait showed up? In reality, I struggled to understand that social rules and cues are nuanced and change with the situation. So when at school, if we were told, you are not allowed to speak without being called on, even in an emergency, like alerting to a fire, I would assume that rule applied.
Read 11 tweets
Neurodivergent_lou Profile picture
Aug 4, 2025
As an autistic person, my life got significantly better when I started scheduling days of rest and no expectation…

Autistic burnout resource mentioned - ko-fi.com/post/Autistic-…Image
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Read 12 tweets
Neurodivergent_lou Profile picture
Jul 24, 2025
7 phone life hacks for autistics and ADHDers

Autistic burnout resource mentioned -

#Autism #ActuallyAutistic #AutismAwareness #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Disability #Disabled #DEI ko-fi.com/post/Autistic-…All slides have a light blue background with black text. Slides 1: text reads - 7 phone life hacks for autistics and ADHDers
Use alarms. Use alarms to remind you to move from one activity to the next and to help you to listen to your body. E.g. reminding you to eat, drink or to stretch your legs. You could even set an alarm five minutes before you need to move activities so you have time to process and transition.
2. Turn on Black and White mode. Put your phone in black and white mode to reduce sensory overload and aid focus. To turn on black and white mode, go to settings - accessibility - display & text size - colour filters and then toggle on colour filters. You can also reduce the brightness on your phone. If you do this in settings, you can reduce the brightness to even lower than on the control centre.
Read 12 tweets
Neurodivergent_lou Profile picture
Jun 17, 2025
How ADHD and Autism Might Hide Each Other?

Autistic Burnout Resource mentioned -

#ActuallyAutistic #Autism #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Disability #Disabled ko-fi.com/post/Autistic-…All slides have a blue background with black text. Slide 1: text reads - How ADHD and Autism Might Hide Each Other
Autism ADHD May mask autistic social and communication struggles Hyperactivity may appear as confidence in social situations
Autism ADHD May mask the social exhaustion from interactions The need for interaction with other people for the brain stimulation
Read 16 tweets
Neurodivergent_lou Profile picture
May 31, 2025
Apps for Autistics and ADHDers

#Autism #ActuallyAutistic #AutismAwareness #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Disability #Disabled #DEI Image
Tappy. This app has a fidget section, feelscapes and simple arcade games.
Communication grid. This app has lots of different icons separated into categories which can be spoken aloud.
Read 14 tweets

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